When I met Peter Weir, we did a movie called 'Master and Commander' together, and that's when I really started to understand the power of acting, the power of directing, finding the emotion in performance.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
In my mid-20s, I was directing episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock' and 'Peter Gunn.' I was pretty much on course and - as I sometimes joke - was prepared to devote my life to become the second best film director in my family.
Being an actor started me writing, and that led to directing.
As a director, I've been able to combine with what I've learned as an actor and as a producer: it melds quite nicely into what I feel like I should have been doing all along.
There's an old Fred Astaire movie where the stage becomes bigger and deeper and more complex. Moments like that really did impact on me and influence me.
When I was a kid, it was a little bit exciting working with Peter Weir and Robin Williams, but that faded pretty quickly for me.
Directing was a great experience, but it's terrifying to have the responsibility of carving up the other actors' performances.
Directing was a natural thing for me. Actually, it was far less stressful directing than being the lead actor. I was able to have my input in all aspects of it.
I became a director just for the love of movies, because of the power of cinema.
And I taught acting for years, and without knowing it that was the real thing that started bending me toward directing.
Working with and collaborating with and for Peter Jackson was an incredible experience because he is such a phenomenal filmmaker.